Abuse of Official Position and Authorities in the Law of Republika Srpska // Zloupotreba službenog položaja i ovlašćenja u pravu Republike Srpske

Legal, quality, efficient, and purposeful actions by official and responsible persons in state bodies and legal entities in exercising entrusted public authorities and official duties are the foundation and guarantee for public services and state bodies functioning in general. From ancient times to the present day there have been individuals and groups who, instead of working in the interest and on behalf of the state bodies and public services violated rules of service and thus committed various abuse. Abuse of official position or authority is the ground criminal act against official duty punishable by severe prison sentence. The act appears in the form of exploitation of official position or authority in overstepping the boundaries of official authority or failing to execute official duty. Depending on the perpetrator’s intent and type of consequence caused, this criminal act has primary and three severe forms. This paper discusses concept, elements, characteristics, and forms of the misuse of official position and authority as the principal official criminal act in legal system of Republika Srpska.